Overview & Reviews

The Nissan Altima has been sold for nearly two decades, starting out as a smallish midsize sedan and maturing into the full-fledged family sedan it is today. There have been five Altima generations thus far, with the third generation marking the key shift to mainstream dimensions and specifications. Nissan likes to emphasize the Altima's fun-to-drive character, a trait we've come to appreciate in road tests over the years. Significant evolutions in features, finesse and frugality have made the Altima a perennial top pick in this popular segment.

Current Nissan Altima
The Altima is available with one of two engines. The standard 2.5-liter, 182-horsepower four-cylinder returns an impressive 31 mpg combined, while the 3.5-liter, 270-hp V6 achieves a respectable 25 mpg combined. Both are equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

There are seven trim levels to choose from, designated as either 2.5 or 3.5 depending on which engine's under the hood. The base 2.5 model gets you steel wheels along with nice perks like keyless ignition/entry and Bluetooth streaming audio, while the 2.5 S adds a power driver seat and an upgraded stereo. The 2.5 SV includes alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control and a touchscreen interface. The fancy 2.5 SL boasts leather upholstery and Bose audio.

Note that the 3.5 S gets many of the 2.5 SV's features plus larger alloy wheels, and the 3.5 SL tacks on xenon headlights. All SV and SL models are eligible for a Technology package that includes a bigger touchscreen, a navigation system, voice controls and a collection of electronic safety features like blind-spot monitoring.

In reviews, we've been very impressed with the Nissan Altima. Most of its competitors are certainly worth a look, but this Nissan has all the makings of a benchmark. It does all the little things right, and goes the extra mile with its rewarding driving dynamics and high-end cabin. Passenger space is also quite good, though some may find backseat headroom a bit lacking.

If you're having a hard time choosing between the four-cylinder and the V6, consider that the four offers a rare combination of excellent fuel economy and relatively swift acceleration. In Edmunds testing, a four-cylinder Altima accelerated to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, which is pretty impressive given its high fuel economy. Of course, we clocked the burly V6 at just 6.2 seconds, so if power's a priority, the 3.5 model range is a nice option to have.

Used Nissan Altima Models
The current, fifth-generation Nissan Altima debuted for the 2013 model year. The latest Altima benefits from overhauled styling inside and out, with a focus on a more upscale look and feel. Fuel economy is markedly better for both four-cylinder and V6 models, while updated suspension and steering systems maintain the Altima's reputation as one of the market's best-handling family sedans. For that debut year only, the previous-generation Altima coupe continued to be sold alongside the redesigned sedan. The coupe was subsequently discontinued.

The previous, fourth-generation Nissan Altima sedan was produced from 2007 through 2012 and marked the arrival of the now-ubiquitous CVT. It is in many ways similar to its successor, so a used one could be a good budget-friendly alternative. A coupe version debuted in 2008 and was produced in modest numbers through 2013. A limited-production Altima Hybrid was also available in some states from 2007 through 2011.

The fourth-generation Altima went without major changes for most of its run, though used car shoppers should note that there were some styling tweaks for 2010, along with the addition of an iPod interface and enhanced audio and navigation systems. Both the sedan and coupe were broken into 2.5 and 3.5 model ranges. The 2.5 models had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produced 175 hp. The 3.5 SR (originally called SE) models had a 3.5-liter V6 that produced 270 hp. Though these powertrains are similar to those of the fifth-generation Altima, they were considerably less fuel-efficient. A CVT was mandatory on the sedan, while the coupe got a standard six-speed manual transmission with the CVT as an option.

We mostly praised the power and handling of both the four-cylinder and V6 Altima models in our reviews. The 3.5 models were more sporting, of course, thanks to their effortless acceleration and sport-tuned suspensions. But even the most basic 2.5-liter four-cylinder was one of the more rewarding family sedans to drive, while still providing a comfortable ride. The CVT was one of the best examples of its breed, and we would choose it over the coupe's six-speed manual, which was unrefined and difficult to use.

The third-generation Nissan Altima, produced from 2002-'06, set the stage for the Altima we know today. Radically different from the previous car, this enlarged model put Nissan smack dab in the middle of the family-sedan wars. It was about 6 inches longer than the previous generation, and its new suspension design and stronger body made it both better to drive and more useful for families. At the time, it was one of the most powerful family sedans available, offering either a 175-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 240-hp 3.5-liter V6, the latter a shot over the bows of the weaker Camry and Accord V6 models. Both engines offered a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, with four-cylinder Altimas limited to a four-speed automatic versus the V6's available five-speed auto.

The third-generation interior was widely criticized for looking and feeling cheap, but the Altima had a particularly lively feel for a front-wheel-drive family sedan. Our editors concluded that the Altima had gone from wallflower to genuinely desirable sedan overnight. For driving enthusiasts, the 2005-'06 Altima SE-R was the way to go. This specialized model came with a firmer suspension, a bit more power and an exclusive six-speed manual transmission whose slick operation was a cut above Nissan's unimpressive norm.

The first and second generations saw the Altima trying to find its groove. All models of this vintage were powered by a reasonably peppy 150-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Introduced in 1993, the original Altima fell somewhere in between the compact and midsize categories, and American car shoppers weren't overly impressed. We found the second-generation Altima, sold for the 1998-2001 model years, to be a decent handler, but its overall design was simply too bland, and its odd size remained an issue. Mainstream success would have to wait for the blockbuster third-generation model.

User Reviews:

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  Abby....Altima - 1997 Nissan Altima
  By Sugar02 - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I just bought my 1997 Nissan as my first car, and she is so beautiful. My Altima runs great, and you can bearly even tell when she is running, shes so quiet. The brakes work great, and I love the hub caps, even if they are only plastic. I would totally recommend buying a nissan, they are totally reliable cars and great for a college student like myself.

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  altima - 2002 Nissan Altima
  By gkmjdavid - September 18 - 2:00 am

  very fun car to drive, still get lots of compliments on looks. needs lighting at night for door controls and cruise controls.

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  Best car Ive purchased to date. - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By Abdi - September 18 - 2:00 am

  If you dont like your cars boring. Get the SE

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  Altima Review - 2005 Nissan Altima
  By Matt - September 16 - 9:43 pm

  Its a great car for the money and so easy to drive! I considered purchasing either the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, but neither came close to the performance, styling and overall value of the Nissan Altima. New for 2005, Nissan did a great job on the styling of the front-end and interior! Much improved over the 2004 model. Everything seems to flow very nicely with fit and finish as opposed to the Camry and Accord, where everything is a bit more “clunky.” The 5-speed automatic transmission is great, you can either have the car shift for you, or you can elect to bang through the gears under high acceleration yourself, seeing 0-60mph under just 6.0 seconds! The gas mileage is awesome with the

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  Very nice car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By sepulveda - September 14 - 3:26 pm

  This is very nice car for the price. the gas mileage excellent, handling good, and very comfortable car. My other car is Honda Civic Si, but my sons love this car because of the comfort. The performance is not bad from a 4 banger also. If your looking for the ultimate affordable car, you should buy this one.

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  Noisiest car I ever had - 2012 Nissan Altima
  By frespo - September 13 - 8:53 am

  I bought my new car ~ 2 months ago. Since the beginning it made a loud "grinding" engine noise. I think it sounds like a loud diesel car. Took it to the dealer and they could not find anything "unusual". You could hear it over the radio, which is not very good. This car is noisier than the Civic 2001 it replaced! On gas milegae, I was looking forward to getting at least 30. No such luck. With the car brand new it gave me 27 and now it is down to 25. It does not have a USB port, which comes standard with cheaper cars. In short, not the new car experience I was hoping for. Do yourself a favor. DO NOT BUY AN ALTIMA. There are plenty of good cars out there. Many are priced lower than this

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  best damn car i ever owned - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By ringer - September 12 - 10:00 am

  This car is the best i get so many compliments drives great very comfortable handles excellent highspeed lane all the way baby cheap interior plastic what the hell are you people looking at try looking inside a boring camry give me this car anyday over honda or toyota by the way ever look at the back of a honda accord ugly also as far as honda and toyota go know two people had to replace transmissions inthere camrys dont believe the hype go with the altima.

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  1000 Miles on My New Altima - 2003 Nissan Altima
  By gsemike - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Altima 2.5S w conv package. Looked at 6 comp cars w my emphasis on a car that is roomy but not too conservative and a good value. The Camry/Accord are vanilla. Galant is dated. Liked Mazda6 but just wasnt comfortable enough in it. It drove great but was a little too sporty. Sebring was nice and good value but a little too old detroit. The Sonata is the content leader but still feels like cheap car. With 175 hp, head turning styling, content, and size, I got the best $20k sedan out there. It feels solid and drives very nice. Its bigger than it looks but drives smaller that it is. So far, no complaints reliability wise.

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  Finally! A Good Car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By Denise - September 12 - 8:53 am

  I just purchased my Altima and I love it. I love the way it handles, the interior is really nice also. I test drove the Hyundai and the Kia Optima and you cant compare them to the Altima. Forget the Toyota Camry unless you like an old lady looking car.

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  Love this car - 2008 Nissan Altima
  By cward74 - September 11 - 12:03 pm

  This car is awesome for such a price. Is extremely fun to drive with good acceleration and handling. Car looks very sporty and has drawn many compliments. At 55k miles in the two years we have owned it, there has been no issues mechanically. Just bought new tires which is the first money into the car other than normal maintenance. The things I would like to change are the touchy brakes that can catch quicker than expected in comparison to other vehicles Ive driven and result in some jerky stopping once in a while. Also, could use a little more room in the car, but cant complain as anybody buying the car knows this when buying it.